gratefuldiver is 100% on point. This is a superb show from the start of one of their alltime peak runs.
Everything in the first set is at least played well but the highlights are the Bird Song and Playin'. The Playin' doesn't reach the volcanic, shredding uberjam levels of the peak November versions or anything like it, but is a wonderful version nonetheless. And the Bird Song might be my favorite out of all the incredible versions from this era.
I can't say that the He's Gone and Truckin' are unique, because I haven't heard all the versions from this era, but they're pretty great and certainly go well beyond the typical. In both cases it's really just Jerry elevating the jams with superbly articulated soloing,
e.g. the magnificently phrased volume-swells through the latter part of He's Gone. Tremendous performances.
Not every fan realizes how much of a rarity Black Peter was in these days. Check it out, this is a pretty huge kickdown. Wonderful, passionate version.
As for the Dark Star, anyone who writes off this version apparently perceives music very differently than I do, to put it politely. Great, creative jamming here, and I really see no room for argument in that regard. Nice Phil/Billy section, open improv jamming, nice thick meltdown after the verse that leads into a moderately spastic modal jam - a little bit of everything I want in a Dark Star really.
Now, Fall '72 was a massive musical peak for the band, especially on the jamming front, and the brilliant Dark Stars were coming as fast as they ever did. So - can you find other Dark Stars from this era that are even more insanely great? Yeah sure I suppose. But this one is phenomenal on its own merits and so is this show as a whole.
Open Library
